In this blog I want to start with the quote from Mia Michaels. I can read it a 1000 times myself, what she says is spot on :

“You are the only one of you. From the beginning of time till the end of this world to the end of eternity. There is only one of you ever created,   

  E-VER. You are the only you, that is pretty powerful. So why on earth would you want to look like anybody else, dress like anyone else, dance like anyone else, be someone else, when you are a legend in your own right?

-Mia Michaels

And this is exactly what we do all the time; trying to look like someone else because in your eyes that is often many times better than how you look. Every time you look in the mirror you see something that really doesn't make you happy and you want to change that as soon as possible. And this is often the first impetus for disturbed eating behaviour. You can eat exactly the same as a fellow dancer, train exactly the same hours and still look different because you are your own unique person, and there is nothing wrong with that. You are great just the way you are.

As a dancer it is really important to look at the inside as well as the outside. Look at what your body can and does, that's really unbelievable! When you hear the applause of the audience, it can't be any other way than that they think it's great and beautiful too? Often you are the only one who doesn't think so and that really needs to change. If you can look at your body positively, you will get much further with it than seeing it negatively all the time. It works against you and hinders your development, I am convinced of that.

 You are not just the outside. A positive body image consists of three components:

1. Self-confidence: Valuing ourselves and believing that others appreciate us and are happy with our company.
2. A positive attitude: Appreciate your strength and avoid the three following negative things:

Perfectionism; To live up to an ideal that is almost impossible to achieve and maintain

Comparison : Constantly comparing yourself to others.

Being very critical and judgmental ; The more critical you are of others, the more likely you are to do the same to yourself.

3. Emotional Stability: A healthy connection to your thoughts and feelings as well as sharing experiences with others

These 3 points are therefore about much more than the outside. It is extremely important to look further. And I'm going to tell you the best way to start doing that with this one 

My golden tip, and in my opinion one of the most important. Yes, it is a buyer and you know yourself that you have to do something with this, but why don't you do it? Trust me, I had the exact same thing when this was said to me. But really, get on with it and find someone who can hold you accountable for your scrolling behavior, it's going to pay off so much. 

Here it comes: ADJUST YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA BEHAVIOR.

We follow everyone, see everything everyone does and the result is often a negative feeling, everyone is better than you. Fortunately, people are increasingly sharing honest photos, but quite a few filters are often used before a video or photo is posted. I'm not going to say that you should get rid of all your social media channels, but at least try to let the time you spend on them make you feel positive. Take a closer look at who you're following and unfollow anyone who makes you feel bad . You always dive into the equation and that is something you certainly do not want. There's a very thin line between admiring someone and thinking 'why don't I look like this'.

Look for accounts that make you happy, that inspire you, that make you laugh.

 Those who follow me know that I often talk about accountability. Achieving goals often falls or stands here. Get started with the above with an accountability buddy. If you don't have this and you still want to continue with it, you can always call or email me. In a free session I can help you further so that you have immediate results. You are unique and therefore need a unique approach! You got this!.